Finding Value in Numbers: The Essential Investing Toolkit to Win on Wall Street (Heilbrunn Center for Graham & Dodd Investing Series)

To be successful as an investor, one needs a framework. And no investing framework works without numbers. Although quantitative methods can be intimidating, they provide a major boost to the quality of analysis. Written for readers without a technical background, Finding Value in Numbers is an engaging and practical guide to how thoughtful investors can use numbers―not just for the sake of crunching data but for making better decisions.

Using a value investing perspective, Ehsan Ehsani shows how to deploy quantitative tools to identify and analyze investment prospects, demystifying the math that points to overlooked opportunities in the stock market, other securities, and beyond. Numbers help us grasp what a company is worth and why: the quality of a business, the durability of its competitive edge, and the reasonableness of its price. Combining practical frameworks with real-world examples, Ehsani walks readers through key concepts that enable robust analysis while explaining how to spot red flags. Along the way, he reveals how a disciplined, numbers-based approach can support both conviction and patience―two traits every successful investor needs. Blending quantitative insight with timeless investing wisdom, Finding Value in Numbers is an essential book for aspiring and professional investors looking to hone their skills as well as curious readers drawn to the inner workings of markets.

Ehsan Ehsani is an adjunct professor in the finance division at Columbia Business School and an investor at an activist and value-oriented firm in New York. He holds an MBA from Columbia Business School, along with master’s degrees from the MIT-Zaragoza International Logistics Program and Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden.

Mario Gabelli is the chairman and chief executive officer of GAMCO Investors, Inc.